Almost four decades back, this megastar rocked the silver screens with an incredible 25 hit films in a spray of a year! 🌈
Actor Outperforms Legendary Figures Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan in Yearly Box Office Earnings; Surpasses Salman's Records at 65
Over the past three decades, Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan have reigned supreme in the Hindi film industry, gracing our screens with unforgettable performances in blockbusters like Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Krrish, 3 Idiots, and PK. But hold your horses, folks, because there's a superstar whose resume outshines these legends by a long shot. You wouldn't believe it, but this unimaginable feat was achieved by a superstar nearly four decades ago, and he's still goingstrong today.
The one-of-a-kind superstar of Malayalam Cinema 🏆
In the 1980s, Malayalam cinema was in a phase of transformation. After Prem Nazir took a step back, the trio of Soman, Jayan, and Sukumaran emerged as the new superstars. However, Jayan's untimely demise in 1980 cut their run short. As Sukumaran and Soman continued to light up the screen, young guns were eager to claim the top spot. The frontrunners were Mammootty and Mohanlal. The latter staked his claim in 1986, his year of astonishing achievements. That year, Mohanlal starred in 34 films as the lead. To put that into perspective, Dilip Kumar, the legendary actor, only did 52 films in his entire 53-year career!
Of the 34 films Mohanlal made in 1986, a whopping 25 were smashing hits at the box office! At just 26, he cemented himself as one of the top stars of Malayalam cinema, a position he has held onto ever since. Before 1986, he was just one of the promising stars in Mollywood. But from that point on, it was a shared rule where he and Mammootty reigned supreme.
How Mohanlal's astonishing feat compares to Bollywood superstars 🤨
Giving 25 hits in a single year is no easy feat. Aamir Khan, one of the most prominent stars in the history of Hindi cinema, has just 21 hits in his entire career (out of 44 films). Hrithik Roshan, on the other hand, has just 15 hits in 27 films. Even legends like Raj Kapoor (17), Manoj Kumar (19), and Rajendra Kumar (23) had fewer hits in their entire careers than Mohanlal's 1986. Even more prolific Bollywood stars pale in comparison. Akshay Kumar had 4 hits each in 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2013. Amitabh Bachchan had 5 hits in 1982, his peak. In fact, in the year when Mohanlal gave his 25 hits, Amitabh, then the country's biggest star, only had one release.
Mohanlal's recent career highlights 🌟
Mohanlal has been on top of Malayalam cinema for four decades, an achievement that's truly unprecedented. From 1986-2016, he was consistently among the industry's top grossers each year. After a series of misses in the late 2010s, Mohanlal returned to form in 2019 with Lucifer, which became the first Malayalam film to gross ₹200 crore. He also found success with Drishyam.
But the veteran saved his best for 2025. The two releases he has had so far this year - L2: Empuraan and Thuradum - have been blockbusters, each earning over ₹200 crore! Both films have outshone Salman Khan's Sikandar and Ram Charan's Game Changer. Despite being 65, Mohanlal is still giving younger superstars a run for their money at the box office.
- Hrithik Roshan
- Aamir Khan
- Salman Khan
- Mohanlal
Mohanlal, a superstar from Malayalam Cinema, accomplished an unparalleled feat in 1986 when he starred in 25 hit movies in a single year, which is more than Aamir Khan's total number of hits in his entire career. Even Bollywood legends like Raj Kapoor, Manoj Kumar, and Rajendra Kumar had fewer hits in their respective careers. In contrast, Mohanlal continues to dominate the Malayalam film industry, with his recent releases like "Lucifer" and "L2: Empuraan" earning over ₹200 crore each, outperforming Sikandar and Game Changer in 2025.
